What effect do shuffling machines have on casino blackjack?
In most cases, shuffling machines do not have an effect on the outcome of the game. That is, they do not have any effect that cannot already be created by a dealer who manipulates the cards in the same way as the machine is designed to. The first reaction to a shuffling machine is suspicion. In order to be worth the investment to the casino, the machine must generate additional revenue and the most obvious way to do this is by stacking the deck in favor of the house. While this may be true in some situations, it cannot be a widespread practice where gambling is regulated, as the gaming commission takes a dim view of casino cheats and would keep a closer eye on any mechanical device than on any human dealer. Even in locations where the local inspectors can be paid to turn a blind eye, it’s much cheaper to invest in a single shrink-wrapping machine (allowing them to remove a few tens and re-seal the deck) than a bank of shuffling contraptions. The value of a shuffling machine is that it
